Latest news with #MutazBarshim
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Olympic high jump gold medalists Kerr and Tamberi debate the rules for ties
ROME (AP) — At the last two Olympics, the men's high jump produced a tie — requiring a big decision. In Tokyo four years ago, Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim agreed to share the gold. In Paris last year, Hamish Kerr and Shelby McEwen agreed to a jump-off that Kerr finally won after an interminable series of misses. Nearly a year later, Kerr is suggesting that sharing should be eliminated from the rule book. 'In the future, does that need to be an option?' Kerr, who is from New Zealand, told The Associated Press on Thursday as he prepared to compete at Rome's Diamond League meeting. 'It's probably not something that I would ever take,' Kerr said of accepting a tie. 'I think it's great that we have people jumping off for medals.' Tamberi, unsurprisingly, does not agree. The Italian noted how Kerr and McEwen combined for 11 straight misses — so many that there wasn't enough room on the scoreboard for all the Xs — in regulation and the jump-off. And that the bar was lowered twice during the jump-off before Kerr finally broke the streak of failures when he got over 2.34 meters (7 feet, 8 inches) to win. 'It becomes an endurance competition and isn't about who can jump the highest anymore,' Tamberi said when asked about Kerr's comments. 'I think people appreciated the moment of sportsmanship that we created in Tokyo. 'Or maybe they should try to find a different way to determine the winner in terms of who jumps the highest,' Tamberi added. 'But jump-offs are really strange, because it's about who has more energy and who can last longer. It's like turning the 100 meters into the 10,000.' The shared gold between Tamberi and Barshim strengthened an existing friendship and Kerr said he feels an enduring bond with his American opponent McEwen, too. 'Obviously we could have shared and we could have sort of walked away from it without having such an awesome experience and a really kind of engaging moment for the crowd and for everyone back home,' Kerr said. 'But we both decided to jump and that was really special. We've got a special bond now.' Tamberi is back Kerr and McEwen have continued their rivalry this season with the American winning two of their three meetings. But Tamberi is making his season debut in Rome and looking to spice things up, while McEwen is not entered for the Golden Gala. Both the 28-year-old Kerr and the 33-year-old Tamberi plan to continue competing through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. First up, though, is this season's world championships in Tokyo in September. Calendar change World Athletics has made a calendar change so that starting this year the track season ends with the worlds. That means that the Diamond League finals in Zurich will be held at the end of August. 'It's a good move, because athletes need to prepare for the worlds and there won't be a post-worlds or post-Olympics where athletes often compete only to salute their fans or for economic reasons,' said Tamberi, whose wife is expecting the couple's first child in August. ___ AP sports:
Qatar Tribune
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
World's best high jumpers back in Doha to dazzle in 2025 What Gravity Challenge at Katara Amphitheatre
Tribune News Network Doha Fans worldwide will once again witness the world's best high jumpers defy expectations at the second edition of the 'What Gravity Challenge', set to take place on Friday at the iconic Katara Amphitheatre. The highly competitive high jump-only event is the brainchild of reigning three-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist Mutaz Barshim, who created a platform where top athletes can push their limits in front of a global audience. Barshim, while speaking to the media on Thursday said he is focused on inspiring future generations.'This event started to honor and empower athletes, It's about creating a movement, challenging limits, celebrating talents, and doing it in the heart of Qatar and beyond,' he said. This year's edition will feature top male stars including Olympic medalists Shelby McEwan, and Hamish Kerr, alongside the event's founder Mutaz Barshim. And for the first time, the challenge will also spotlight the world's top women athletes such as World No. 1 Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Eleanor Patterson, and Christina Honsel, marking a major milestone in the event's evolution toward greater inclusivity and global representation. The elite jumpers will battle it out for a $155,000 prize pool, with the winner taking home the unique trophy crafted by renowned Qatari artist Ahmed Al Bahrani, symbolizing both athletic excellence and cultural heritage. Ukraine's Mahuchikh, who holds the women's high jump world record, expressed her excitement about competing in Doha. She praised the unique concept of 'defying gravity' and described Qatar as a welcoming and inspiring host country. 'I'm in a strong physical and mental state, and I'm excited to begin my season here,' Mahuchikh said. 'This competition offers a unique atmosphere and a platform to push the limits of what we can achieve.' The elite jumpers will battle it out for a $155,000 prize pool, with the winner taking home the unique trophy crafted by renowned Qatari artist Ahmed al-Bahrani, symbolizing both athletic excellence and cultural heritage. Qatar Athletics Federation President Mohammed Issa al-Fadala said the inaugural edition of the What Gravity Challenge was a resounding success and expressed confidence in an even more remarkable outcome this season at Katara. The 2025 What Gravity Challenge is supported by Visit Qatar, Ooredoo, Puma, Cosette, Jetour, Bornan and in collaboration with Katara, Alkass, and Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. This event will be broadcast globally by Alkass, beIN SPORTS, World Athletics, and the Ukraine Public Broadcaster, ensuring that fans across continents can witness the competition. For more details, visit or book tickets at List of participants Men: Mutaz Barshim (Qatar), Juwon Harrison, Shelby McEwen (USA), Hamish Kerr (New Zealand), Brandon Stark (Australia), Jan Steffela (Czech Republic), Ryochi Akamatsu (Japan), Raymond Richards (Jamaica), Donald Thomas (Bahamas), Edgar Rivera (Mexico), Marco Fassinotti (Italy) Women: Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Yuliia Levchenko (Ukraine), Kristina Gonsal, Imke Onnen (Germany), Eleanor Patterson (Australia), Charity Gavinagel (USA), Maria Zhodzik (Poland), Morgan Lake (Great Britain), Mikela Gruba (Czech Republic), Nadezhda Dubovitskaya (Kazakhstan).
Arab Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Ming and Barshim to speak at OCA General Assembly in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, May 7: The 45th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), set to begin in Kuwait next Sunday, will feature notable Asian athletes, including Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming and Qatari Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim. Both will deliver speeches at the event, with Ming discussing professionalism in sports and Barshim sharing insights on the role of champions in international championships. The General Assembly, held under the theme "One Asia," will see the participation of officials from National Olympic Committees (NOCs) representing 45 Asian countries. Approximately 400 sports figures from across Asia and beyond are expected to attend the two-day gathering. A cultural celebration will take place at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center, showcasing folklore performances from China, India, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Lebanon, and Kuwait to highlight the unity of Asian sports.
